Child-friendly fun doesn’t need to be expensive. In Prince George’s, families can dive into science, space, nature, art, literature, and adventure without breaking the bank. Take advantage of the region by visiting a free museum, participating in a library activity, and exploring a nature trail.

 

Try one of these free eight kid-centered activities:

 

  1. Support your burgeoning astronaut by visiting the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt. You can take a self-guided tour at the always-free center, or join a program, including the monthly Sunday Experiment sessions, where children ages 5 to 10 can participate in science, engineering, and technology activities.

 

  1. Take advantage of all the Prince George’s County Memorial Library system has to offer for families. Try your luck at a family, or teen game-night at one of the many branches. Bring younger children to Play and Grow or Playday at the Library sessions. Listen to story times for various age groups. Get homework help for young students.

 

  1. Discover more about the night sky at an Open House Evening at the University of Maryland Astronomy Observatory in College Park. The public sessions are free, happen on the 5th and 20th of each month, and do not require reservations. They include a tour of the observatory and a chance to observe, weather permitting.

 

  1. Explore your child’s artistic lens at the Montpelier Arts Center. Stroll through the space on your own, or call ahead to arrange a tour of the exhibitions on view and the artists working in their studios.

 

  1. Visit the Belair Mansion and the Belair Stable Museum in Bowie to learn more about Thoroughbred horses, the region’s horse racing history, and the legacy of these historic horses’ bloodlines.

 

  1. Encourage your child to be brave at one of the many skateparks across Prince George’s. From the rolling space at Sunnyside Skate Park in College Park to the art-filled facility in Hyattsville’s Melrose Skate Park, skateboarding kids can have fun and develop their skills.

 

  1. Merge visions of today’s pilots with lessons from flight history at the College Park Aviation Museum. You’ll find remnants of the iconic flights that occurred here, and you can treat yourself to a picnic with views of modern-day takeoffs.

 

  1. Hike the easy Riverview Trail, which leaves from the Piscataway Park Visitor Center and follows the Potomac River for 0.6 miles each way. The path goes through a riparian forest buffer, which reduces soil erosion and nutrient runoff.

 

Extend your adventure with a picnic at one of these perfect spots.